Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen Blog Editor

The blog is edited by Allen & Allen personal injury attorney Christopher Guedri. His expansive trial experience includes hundreds of bench and jury trials. Chris dedicates his law practice to helping clients and making his community a safer place.

Jul

07

2015

Across the country, many organizations strive to create awareness for the dangers of distracted driving. In the United States, more than ninepeople are killed and more than 1,100 people are injured each day in crashes that involve distracted drivers.[1]

What counts as “distracted driving”?

Distracted driving is any activity that can divert attention away from the primary task of driving, including: texting, using a cellphone or smartphone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading, using a navigation system, watching a video, and adjusting the radio.[2] These activities are dangerous because they involve one or more types of distraction:

Jun

09

2015

Playgrounds are popular destinations for children to run, play and be active. For that reason, playgrounds are places where children frequently get hurt. In the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 years old or younger for playground-related injuries.[1] Children ages five to nine have the highest rates of emergency room visits for playground injuries, with most of these injuries occurring at schools.[2]

Between 2001 and 2008, an average of 218,851 preschool and elementary children received emergency department care for injuries that occurred on playground equipment.[3]

May

29

2015

As the weather gets warm, and the pollen starts to settle, the days become perfect for an afternoon out on the boat. As you take your family and friends out on the boat there are a few rules to keep in mind to make sure everyone has fun, but remains safe.

In 2013, the Coast Guard counted 4,062 accidents involving 560 deaths, 2,620 injuries, and approximately $39 million of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents.[1]

Where cause of death was known, 77 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Among uses where life jacket statistics were recorded, 84 percent of those who drowned as a result of a boating accident were…

May

11

2015

As cycling increases in popularity more and more people are discovering the advantages of the cycling commute. Biking to work saves money, saves the environment, and helps you exercise. You can save thousands in gas costs and car repairs every year, and the average new bike commuter loses 13 pounds in their first year.[1] With these advantages there for the taking, workers might want to give bike commuting a chance.

Many people are worried about bike commuting because they don’t want to sweat or get tired before they get to the office. Most regular bike commuters recommend leaving early in the morning so you have no need to push yourself too hard, carrying…

Apr

23

2015

In 2014 nearly 64 million vehicles were recalled in the United States.[1] Remarkably, many of these cars will not only avoid the recall, but will be sold at used car dealerships all across the country.

Currently federal law does not prevent a used car dealership from selling a vehicle with a known safety defect. It also does not require dealers to disclose the defect to the consumer. As a result thousands of drivers take to the road every day with no idea that their vehicle has been recalled over a serious safety concern.[2]

Apr

09

2015

P. Christopher Guedri, a personal injury attorney from the law firm of Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, was recently recognized for excellence by Virginia Super Lawyers. The rankings were published by Richmond Magazine on April 9, 2015.

Only the top 5% of attorneys in Virginia are included on the list. The rankings are the result of peer nominations, peer evaluations, and independent research performed by Law & Politics Magazine. The attorneys listed have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement from more than 70 practice areas.

Chris Guedri is a take-charge lawyer whose forceful personality compliments his formidable litigation and negotiating skills. For over 30 years, Guedri has focused his practice…

Mar

27

2015

Each year thousands of police officers and emergency responders are injured or killed while stopped along the side of the highway. Their jobs require them to place themselves in harm’s way by working within a few feet of speeding traffic. In an effort to protect these first responders, many states have enacted strong “Move Over” laws. These laws require drivers passing a stopped emergency vehicle to move to another lane if it is safe for them to do so.

More than two-thirds of Americans are unaware that these laws require them to change lanes when they see an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road; yet when polled, more than 80% supported the proposition.…

Mar

16

2015

The University of Leicester has developed a new assessment tool for people suffering from traumatic brain injuries. The Short Parallel Assessments of Neuropsychological Status (SPANS) is designed to provide a user-friendly and concise method of measuring the brain activity and process of patients. The test is unique in that it only takes 35 minutes to complete, allowing researchers and doctors to gather more data with less effort. SPANS focuses on seven key criteria: orientation, attention and concentration, language, memory and learning, visuo-motor performance, efficiency, and conceptual flexibility. The test was developed by Dr. Gerald Burgess in response to a…

Feb

27

2015

With a little planning, biking is still possible during the cold winter months. Even harsh winters full of snow and ice can be safely navigated, as evidenced by the large population of year-round bike commuters is cities such as Minneapolis and Madison. These ten tips can help you extend your biking into the coldest part of the year:[1]

1. Know the road and its conditions

Some cities plow bike paths as well as roads in the wake of a storm, but in Richmond and the surrounding area most bikers are left to fend for themselves. If you are a regular winter biker learn which streets will be cleared and when, and exercise extra caution when icy bike paths force you…